At age 50, Sam had had enough. After 40 years of chronic digestive issues and a diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome, a casual conversation changed his life.

Nearly a decade ago, Sam’s acupuncturist casually mentioned gluten-related issues. By that point, Sam would try anything. The Boulder resident dived headfirst into a gluten-free diet, and within 10 days, his symptoms were gone.

Shannon Culek and Kate O’Donnell, both from Nederland, sit around a table with their favorite cosmetics, discussing their simple beauty routines. Culek, a holistically trained nutritionist, says she uses lotion, lip balm and sunscreen. O’Donnell uses sunscreen and natural hair-care products. Unlike most women, they use mascara or lipstick only on special occasions. But like just about everyone, Culek and O’Donnell get overwhelmed trying to figure out what’s safe.